Tobacco stringer or clamp



March 18, 1958 H. ROYAL TOBACCO STRINGER OR CLAMP Filed July 1, 1953 INVENTOR Haward 1999a! ATTORNEYS 'iJnited States Patent TGBACCG STRINGER R CLAMP Howard Royal; Cluster Springs, Va.

Application July 1, 1953, Serial'No. 565,346

dclaims. Cl. 294-55 My invention relates to a holder for harvested -.tobacco leaves.

It is an object of my invention to provide a portable tobacco leaf holder which may be easily handled. and supported from spaced horizontal beams so that the tobacco may be dried and yet held in a clamped and secure position within the holder.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a frame of two spaced apart elongated members with a cooperating third elongated member attached towards one end of the frame and. between the spaced members such that it hinges towardand away from the spaced members in a manner that permits the third member. to move laterally away. from the spaced member.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a flame. of. two spaced apart elongated memberswith a cooperating third elongated memberv which is hingedly connected at one end to the' spaced members adjacent one end thereof in a resilient. manner permitting the thirdweightyet rigid clamping. means consistingbfia:painofx spaced members and a cooperating third membergmovablymounted on and resiliently pressed-toward the spaced members such that the stems of leaves-.off tobacco may. be clamped between and held in place; as they dry and shrink between the third movable clamping member and the: spaced members.-

Still further objects and thev entire; scope. of applicability of. the present invention will become apparent from the: detailed. descriptionv given hereinafter; itshould beunderstood; however, that the detailed description and specific example given by way of illustration only and, while. indicatingipreferred embodiment of. theinvention, isnot given by way of limitatiomsincevarious changes and modifications within the spirit. and scope of the in ventionzwill become. apparent to those skilled in the art from: this: detailed. description.

Eon a'more complete understanding of the nature" and scope'of my inventionreference may be had to'the following; description and thedrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my tobacco stick showing the clamping. hinged member in closed position withrespect to. the spaced member of the frame;

Fig; 2 is a side elevation View. of the device show'n in Fig. I with a fragmentary showing. in: broken lines of the position of the hinged member in" an; open hingedv attitude; 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional'view along line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the spring bias-ed connecting means for the free end of the hinged member;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionalview along line. 44 of Fig. 1 showing the hinged end mounting of the hinged member with respect to the spaced members;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of .a modified formof my invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing a hinged member on opposite sides of a frame having a pair of spaced elements on opposite sides of the frame;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view along line 7--7 of Fig. 6 showing the detachable connecting means for the free end of the third member; and- Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view along line 8-8 of Fig. 5 showing a biasing connection between each of the hinged members and the frame at about midway the length of the members.

Throughout the various figures of the drawing and the description like reference numerals refer to similar parts.

Figures 1-4 show one form of the device for clamping the stems of leaves of tobacco according to my invention and it will be described with reference to these figures.

The clamping device or tobacco stick is generally indicated at 10 and it is about 4 feet 6 inches in-length. A. frame work 11 consisting of spacedapart elongated members 12 and 13 of relatively light weight but rigid material, such as aluminum or magnesium alloy rods or tubing, are mounted in end members 14-14. The spaced: members 12 and 13 are about to 1 inch in diameter. The end members may be 0f WOOd or light weight metal castings of elongated rectangular shape provided withspaced' apart cavities 14' formed inone endthereof into which the ends of spaced apart members 12and 13 are secured .as by a driven fit. T hezend'members 1414 are.

of a size that they may be easily grasped by the hand and they serve as hearing members for the stick when it is placed in a" tobacco barn on spaced apart beams (not shown).

Cooperating in clamping relation between the spacedapart'elongated tubes or rods 12 and 13 is a clamp member 15 of similar rod or tube material to that of the spaced members 12'. and 13. Clamp member 15' is secured at one end to the members 12' and 13' towards one end thereof by a hinge assembly. generally indicated at 16. This hinge assembly 16 has a pin 17 securely mounted in apertures 12 and 13' extending transversely to they length of the spaced member-s12 and 13 as best shown in Fig. 4. On pin17' and between spaced members 12 and 13 is mounted'a hinge element 18in the form of an eye-bolt having an eye in one end which is received by the pin 1'7. Hinged member 15 has an aperture 15 therethroughout at one end through which is inserted the eye bolt 18. Eye bolt 18 is threaded at 18 to receive a knurled nut- 19 which presses against a compression spring 26 placed overthe stem of the-eye bolt 18. Spring 29 in turn presses against the hinged member 15. This mounting arrangement of'member 15'0n the hingedeye bolt 18 permits the member 15- t'o'not only swing out from spaced members 12. and 13' on its hinge mounting assembly 16 but also to move laterallyaway from and towards spaced members 12-and 13 so that stems oftebacco leaves may be clamped when laid over the members 12 and 13 in a transverse position and under member 15.

The spacing between members 12 and;13 is less than the diameter of rod 15 as-shown in- Fig. 4; This spacing of members 12 and 13 prevents member 15 from-passing on between the spacedi members and thus. memberl'S,

when: in a fully closed position, abuts each member If a and 13 to one side of a plane passing through both rods sion spring 20 will be compressed and hinge member will then be spaced out from members 12 and 13 by a dis tance equal to the height of the stacked stems uniformly laid on members 12 and 13. V, f

In order to lock the hinge member 15 in a closed position and to exert a pressure thereon to hold it down in compression, I provide on the other end thereof a detachable connecting latch generally indicated at 21 in Fig. 3 which connects the other end of member 15 with the spaced members 12 and 13. Latch 21 comprises elongated bolt-like member 22 having a member 23 attached transversely at one end as by welding. The bolt portion 22 is received within an aperture 15" formed in the end of member 15 opposite to the hinged end. The bolt member 22 of the latch assembly'receives a compression spring 24 having one end pressing against member 15 while the other end of the spring presses against a knurled nut '25 fixed in the end of the bolt element 22. The transverse end member 23 has its outer ends 23' bent up at an obtuse angle with the end portion attached to the bolt 22 such that they fit closely as a yoke against the adjacent spaced members 12 and 13. V r

l have shown by broken lines in Fig. 3 how this detachable latch member may operate so as to unlatch the free end of hinge member 15 from its connection with the spaced members'12 and 13. Thus, by pressing on the nut 25 in the direction of bolt 22, spring 24 is compressed enough 'to let the bolt member 22 move axially .in aperture 15" in member 15,.and the transverse end element 23 of the latch may be rotated 90 degrees such that it will pass between the spaced members 12 and'13' and thus allow hinge member 15 to be swung as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. The compression spring 24 acts the same as compression spring on the hinge assembly 16 at the other end of the member 15 in that it exerts a pressure on nut and member 15 to urge member 15 toward the spaced members 12 and 13 and thus compress tobacco stems jheld clamped between the hinge member 15 and spaced members 12 and 13. As the tobacco leaves and stems dry and shrink, the compression springs 20 and 24 apply a steady pressure on hinge or clamping member 15 to hold the stems compressed in place against the space members 12 and 13. This arrangement provides a carrier for tobacco leaves that is light in weight, easily handled and that is with facility slipped over horizontally disposed spaced beams for sus- V pension in a drying barn.

The modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figures 5-8, inclusive. This modified form of tobacco stick provides for a double clamping arrangement whereby the stems of leaves may be clamped on opposite sides of a frame member having spaced apart elongated elements.

In Fig. 5 a tobacco stick or clamp according to the modification is generally indicated as 30. There is a body or frame 31 which may be of wood or light weight metal such as aluminum'or a magnesium alloy. Frame 31 is of general rectangular shape in cross section and is elongated having a length of about 4 feet 6 inches. In

, two opposite faces 32 and 33 of frame 31 are formed grooves 32 and 33' which extend throughout the length of the frame 31. These grooves are U-shaped in cross section having semicircular portions at their bottoms. The upper longitudinal edges of the grooves, as indicated at 32" and 33", may be rounded off in a more pro nounced manner than illustrated in Fig. 8. So also the end elements 1414 in Fig. 1 may be rounded oif alon their edges.

Cooperating with each of the grooves 32' and 33are hinge or clamp members 34 and 35, respectively. Hinge members 34 and 35 may be rods or tubes of light weight These hinge members 34 metal as member 15 of Fig. l. and 35 clamp the stems of tobacco leaves that maybe positioned transversely across the faces 32 and 33 of frame 31 and hold them securely under pressure as will be explained. a V t Hinge member 34 shown in Figures 5 and 6 has its end bifurcated as at 34a and 34b and these'bifurcations have an aperture 34c formed transversely therethrough which receives a pin 36. An eye bolt 37 having an eye 37 at one end and a threaded opposite end 37" is secured to pin 36 at the eye end which is disposed between. the bifurcations 34a and 34b of hinge member 34; The.

frame 31 is apertured with a vertically disposed aperture 38 to receive the .stem of eye bolt 37. Mounted on the stem of 'eye bolt 37 is a compression spring 39 which presses at one end against the base of groove 33' in frame 31. A knurled nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded end 37 of bolt 37 and presses against the other end of spring 37. Thus, hinge member 34 is mounted for swinging movement and transverse movement with respect to the groove 32'.

It Will be observed that the forming of groove 32' in face 32 of frame 31 provides elongated spaced elements or portions 32a and 32b in the face of 32. These spaced portions 32:: and 32b cooperate with the hinge member 34 in a similar manner as do the spaced rods 12 and 13 in Fig. 1 cooperate with the hinge member 15 in holding the stems of tobacco leaves in a clamped position.

The opposite free end of binge member 34 is detach- V ably connected to the frame member 31 in the same manner. as will be explained for the free end of hinge member 35 shown in Figures 6 and 7. Frame 31 has formed therein an aperture 41 of elongated shape as shown in Fig. 7. This aperture 41 communicates with an internal transverse slot 42 formed in frame 31 midway between faces 32 and 33 and in, adjacent spaced relation to aperture 38 mounting the eye bolt 37. Slot 42 is wider than the narrower width-of the elongated cross sectional shape of aperture 41 as illustrated in Fig.7 7. Thus, a ledge is provided at the .junctureof aperture41 and slot 42 to receive the elongated head 45 of a bolt latch 44. Bolt latch 44 extends through an aperture 35a formed in hinge member'35 and receives a compression spring 45 which presses at one end againsthinge member 35 and at the other end against a knurled nut 46 fixed to the end of bolt latch 44. Thus, by pushing in on bolt latch 44 and turning at degrees, the head 45 will assume the broken line position shown in Fig. 7 and the hinge member 35 may be swung out of groove 33. It will be noted that the compression spring 45 on bolt latch 44 permits hinge member 35 to move laterally with respect toflthe groove 33 and the spaced portions 33a and 33b. I

Reference to Fig. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the device taken about midway the length of the tobacco stick shown in Fig. 5. I have provided latch bolts in each of the hinge members 34 and 35 which cooperate with apertures and slots in a manner like that shown in Fig. 6 for securing the free end of binge member 35.

the stick between spaced beams (not shown) in a tobacco shed or barn.

I have provided a lightweight, easily handled, and

rigidly constructed tobacco stick or clamp. It is easily loaded by one person with tobacco leaves. It is portable and provides a clamp for the stems of tobacco leaves from the time they are harvested until they are dried. These sticks take up very little room for storage when empty and the movable parts are held under spring pressure in unloaded or loaded condition.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A tobacco stick for clamping the stems of leaves of tobacco comprising, in combination, a pair of parallel spaced apart elongated members, connecting means attached to and holding the spaced apart members in spaced relationship so that air may circulate therebetween to dry the tobacco clamped thereagainst without mildewing, an elongated clamp member disposed in abutting relationship between said spaced members the distance between said parallel spaced apart elongated members being less than the width or" said clamp member, hinge means connecting one end of said clamp member to adjacent one end of said spaced members, a compression spring mounted on said hinge means and urging said clamp member toward said spaced members and detachable connecting means on the other end of said elongated clamp member to connect said other end of the clamp member to said pair of spaced apart elongated members, said detachable connecting means having a compression spring urging said elongated clamp member towards said spaced apart elongated members.

2. A tobacco stick for clamping the stems of leaves of tobacco comprising, in combination, a pair of parallel spaced apart elongated members, end members holding the spaced apart members in spaced position so that air may circulate freely therebetween to dry the tobacco clamped thereagainst without mildewing, an elongated clamp member having an aperture through an end disposed in abutting relationship between said spaced members and hingedly connected at said apertured end to adjacent one end of said spaced members the distance between said parallel spaced apart elongated members being less than the width of said clamp member, and hinge means connecting said hinge member to said spaced members, said hinge means including a transverse pin connecting said spaced members, an eye bolt having its eye end received on said pin and its stem passing through the aperture in said clamp member, compression biasing means on said bolt urging said clamp member toward said spaced members and detachable connecting means on the other end of said elongated clamp member to connect said other end of the clamp member to said pair of spaced apart elongated members, said detachable connecting means having a compression spring urging said elongated clamp member towards said spaced apart elongated members.

3. A tobacco stick for clamping the stems of leaves of tobacco comprising, in combination, a pair of parallel spaced apart elongated rod-like members, end members holding the spaced apart members in spaced position so that air may circulate freely therebetween for drying the tobacco clamped thereagainst without mildewing, an elongated clamp member disposed adjacent said spaced members, a bolt means hingedly connecting said spaced members and said clamp member at one end thereof whereby said elongated clamp member hinges in a plane parallel to and intermediate parallel planes containing each or" said rod-like members, the axis of the hinge formed by said bolt means being transverse with respect to said spaced apart rod-like members, spring means on said bolt means biasing said clamp means toward said spaced members and detachable connecting means on the other end of said elongated clamp member to connect said other end of the clamp member to said pair of spaced apart elongated members, said detachable connecting means having a compression spring urging said elongated clamp member towards said spaced apart elongated members.

4. A tobacco stick for clamping the stems of leaves of tobacco comprising, in combination, a pair of parallel spaced apart elongated tubular members, end pieces of elongated block-like shape connecting the ends of said spaced members and holding them in spaced apart position so that air may circulate freely therebetween to dry tobacco clamped thereagainst Without mildewing, an elongated clamping rod associated With said spaced apart members having an aperture through one end thereof, the distance between said parallel spaced apart elongated tubular members being less than the width of said clamping rod, hinge means connecting one end of said clamping member to said spaced apart members adjacent one end thereof, said hinge means comprising a pin extending transverse to and connecting said spaced apart members, an eye bolt having its eye pivotally connected to said pin and its stem extending through said aperture in one end of said clamp, a nut for said eye bolt and a compression means chsposed on the stem of said bolt between said nut and said clamp member, and a spring pressed bolt attached to the other end of said elongated clamp having a transversely extending head adapted to be inserted between said spaced apart members and turned to latch against said spaced apart members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 713,101 Hosford Nov. 11, 1902 1,583,647 Bayles May 4, 1926 2,434,309 Broughton Ian. 13, 1948 2,452,727 Burton Nov. 2, 1948 2,494,379 Droemer Jan. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,340 Australia Apr. 11. 1946 

